Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 69

Sheng Yong didn’t suspect either of the concubines in the slightest.

If either Auntie Bai or Auntie Hong had the ability to harm the mistress of the household, why would they have ended up as concubines in the first place? And why would they wait until now?

Huang-shi’s words only confirmed to him that she was as foolish as ever, jealous of the favor he showed the two concubines. Secretly, Sheng Yong felt a little relieved.

Still, aside from her stupidity, Huang-shi seemed a bit more unhinged than before—that wasn’t good. It looked like he’d have to spend more time with her in the future to keep her under his control.

“They wouldn’t harm you, nor do they have the means to,” Sheng Yong said, softening his tone.

“Master, some time ago, when Sixth Miss was injured, I later thought about it—that wretched Taoniang practically treated Sixth Miss as her own daughter. She wouldn’t have harmed her.”

“If I’m not mistaken, then the one who hurt Sixth Miss must be someone else.”

“The culprit behind Sixth Miss’s injury was never caught, and now a drugged beggar appears in my courtyard. It seems whoever wants to harm us mother and daughter has considerable power!”

“Who knows—maybe it’s one of those fox-spirits you dote on, the kind who loves wearing white—”

Sheng Minmin deliberately spat the words through gritted teeth.

She had once considered crippling Sheng Mingzhu’s legs herself, but before she could act, Mingzhu’s dance shoes had been sabotaged. Such meticulous scheming couldn’t possibly have been an accident.

Sheng Minmin suspected Auntie Bai was the most likely culprit.

Three years ago, Auntie Bai had been pregnant, though it was still early and not publicly announced.

Later, Sheng Mingzhu accidentally bumped into her, causing a miscarriage.

At the time, Mingzhu had been so frightened she fell ill for days. But because of her young age, and because Auntie Bai had concealed her pregnancy, Mingzhu faced no punishment.

Knowing Mingzhu as she did, Sheng Minmin wouldn’t be surprised if the girl had learned about Auntie Bai’s pregnancy and done it on purpose.

Mingzhu was a born monster—she wanted to be the youngest, most spoiled little princess of the Sheng household and wouldn’t tolerate a younger sibling stealing her spotlight.

And Auntie Bai, for her part, might very well have held a grudge over the incident.

So Sheng Minmin decided to test Sheng Yong—and sure enough, she caught a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

So it really was Auntie Bai.

She tucked this information away. Perhaps she and Auntie Bai could collaborate in the future.

Meanwhile, Sheng Yong hadn’t expected Huang-shi to pick up on the clues. After Mingzhu’s injury, he had investigated, and the evidence pointed to Bai-shi.

He had privately warned her. Bai-shi had tearfully admitted it on the spot, bringing up the miscarriage…

That miscarriage had ruined Bai-shi’s health. Despite years of treatment, she still couldn’t conceive. Thinking of the lost child and all the medicine Bai-shi had taken over the years, Sheng Yong couldn’t help but feel guilty.

Since Mingzhu had only suffered minor injuries, he hadn’t punished Bai-shi too harshly.

The more guilty Sheng Yong felt, the more he lashed out in anger. His face darkened, and he roared:

“Have you lost your mind? Who in this household would want to harm you and your daughter?”

Sheng Minmin knew that when Sheng Yong acted like this, he was more bark than bite.

If he ever grew calm, his eyes cold and unreadable—that was when he became truly dangerous.

So she wasn’t afraid. She shouted right back:

“You’re yelling at me?! Fine! I see now—I mean nothing to you anymore!”

“I’ve been married to you for so many years, bore your children, managed your household, worked myself to the bone—even the earnings from my dowry shops and estates went to filling your family’s debts!”

“Now that I’ve got no money left, you’re kicking me aside, is that it?”

“You call me mad? I am mad!”

“What kind of mistress puts up with humiliation for ten years, nearly driven to suicide today? Even a Bodhisattva would go insane!”

“Magistrate Sheng, from now on, you can handle the household affairs yourself—I’m done!”

She ranted in one furious breath, then smashed a teacup beside her for good measure, the shattering sound ringing through the room.

The more she acted like a resentful, aggrieved, tactless madwoman, the less suspicious Sheng Yong would be.

And she was right. Soon enough, Sheng Yong was looking at her like she was nothing but a fool.

She knew she’d successfully blustered her way through this confrontation and finally allowed herself to relax—only then noticing the cold sweat clinging to her back.

Just then, Xiangxiang’s voice came from outside the door:

“Master, Madam, Magistrate Jiang of the Capital Prefecture has arrived.”

“Unbelievable!”

Sheng Yong spat the words and stormed out.

…..

Magistrate Jiang Fengqing was in his forties, with a refined appearance that made him easy to like.

But those who had dealt with him knew he was shrewd and meticulous—traits that had kept him firmly in his position as Capital Prefect.

His rank was slightly higher than Sheng Yong’s, so out of courtesy, both Sheng Yong and Sheng Minmin went to the main gate to receive him. After brief greetings, they headed straight to Haitang Courtyard.

At a glance, Magistrate Jiang noticed the beggar tightly bound to the tree.

Two bailiffs “rescued” the man, whose face was flushed, eyes glazed over—clearly still under the influence of the drug.

Jiang Fengqing was no fool. After a moment’s thought, he deduced that the black-clad intruder must have been targeting Huang-shi, the mistress of the Sheng household.

Most likely, Huang-shi had either offended someone or stood in their way, prompting such a vile scheme to eliminate her.

Jiang Fengqing had heard of Huang-shi before—reputed to be wealthy, virtuous, and selflessly devoted to her family.

Sheng Yong’s rise to his current fifth-rank position was partly due to Huang-shi’s financial backing. Many men envied Sheng Yong for having a wife who was not only rich but willing to spend her fortune paving his way.

Jiang Fengqing had once thought Huang-shi a fool.

What use was a woman’s blind devotion and drained coffers?

In his experience, women who gave their all to a man from the start usually ended up exploited and discarded.

A woman’s money should remain firmly in her own hands. If a man pleased her, she might deign to let a little trickle out as a reward. If not, not a single coin should leave her grasp. With money and loyal servants, she could live comfortably regardless.

This was the exact philosophy he’d taught his own daughter, and she had lived quite contentedly all these years.

Now, seeing Huang-shi in person, Jiang Fengqing realized the rumors might have misled him.

Huang-shi didn’t seem as meek or husband-obsessed as claimed.

The couple had barely concealed their tension when greeting him at the gate—they must have already quarreled.

The reason wasn’t hard to guess: Huang-shi wanted to make a scene, while Sheng Yong wished to keep the family’s shame private…

Considering the recent gossip about Sixth Miss Sheng’s extravagance—spending tens of thousands of taels monthly yet still complaining of mistreatment—

If Huang-shi truly worshipped her husband and adored her daughter, such rumors would never have spread.

Keeping these thoughts to himself, Jiang Fengqing politely addressed the couple:

“Magistrate Sheng, Madam Huang, might I trouble your household physician to administer an antidote to this beggar?”

Sheng Yong quickly agreed, sending a servant to fetch the doctor.